Fáilte chuig gaa.ie - suíomh oifigiúil CLG

Hurling

hurling

Leinster SHC: Galway cruise to victory

Joe Canning and Conor Cooney celebrate at O Connor Park.

Joe Canning and Conor Cooney celebrate at O Connor Park.

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final

GALWAY 2-28 DUBLIN 1-17

By Cian O'Connell at O’Connor Park, Tullamore

An Allianz Hurling League title ensures Galway are dealing with the heavy burden of western expectation, but Micheal Donoghue’s team were cool in Tullamore.

Galway had sufficient skill and style to earn a convincing win over Dublin, who battled well initially, but ultimately were soundly beaten.

It was a first half sprinkled with productive bursts from both teams, who were keen to make an impact early on.

Chris Crummey rifled Dublin ahead, but Galway reeled off four points without reply before the underdogs snapped back once more.

Eamon Dillon, Shane Barrett, Donal Burke, and David Treacy nailed scores as Dublin edged 0-5 to 0-4 in front before Joe Canning took centre stage.

The prolific Portumna attacker fashioned opportunities for Cathal Mannion and David Burke to score and then landed a sweet point on the turn.

By the time Joseph Cooney raised a green flag in the 23rd minute all six Galway forwards had registered from play as the Tribesmen led 0-9 to 0-6.

A free from David Treacy narrowed the gap, but Galway responded once again courtesy of an opportunistic Flynn goal.

Dublin custodian Conor Dooley initially denied Joseph Cooney with a fine save, but Flynn reacted promptly steering the sliotar over the line.

Ger Cunningham’s outfit remained defiant, though, with a Donal Burke pass locating Ben Quinn, who thumped a blistering goal to the back of the Galway net in first half stoppage time ensuring the interval deficit was 1-10 to 1-7.

After the restart Galway pulled further clear following splendid points from Whelan, Canning (2), and Conor Cooney, and David Burke.

That had Galway 1-15 to 1-8 in the ascendancy, while Dublin’s cause wasn’t aided by the 40th minute dismissal of Cian O’Callaghan for a second yellow card in the 40th minute.

From then until the bitter end Dublin’s brief turned to damage limitation and while they hit four of the next six points, Galway weren’t too concerned.

Conor Cooney’s 51st minute goal was a flash of class as the Tribesmen continued to dictate the agenda with Canning prominent.

Galway, gaining confidence and momentum, will now face Offaly at the penultimate stage in Leinster at O’Moore Park on June 18.

Scorers for Galway: Joe Canning 0-9 (5fs), Conor Cooney 1-3, Jason Flynn 1-2, Conor Whelan 0-5, David Burke 0-3, Joseph Cooney, Niall Burke, Thomas Monaghan, Eanna Burke, and Cathal Mannion 0-1 each.

Scorers for Dublin: David Treacy 0-5 (4fs), Donal Burke 0-3 (2fs), Ben Quinn 1-0, Eamon Dillon, Chris Crummey, and John Hetherton (f) 0-2 each, Shane Barrett, Fergal Whitely, Rian McBride 0-1 each.

**GALWAY: **Colm Callanan; Adrian Tuohy, Daithi Burke, Paul Killeen; Padraic Mannion, Gearoid McInerney, Aidan Harte; Joe Canning, Johnny Coen; Cathal Mannion, David Burke, Joseph Cooney; Conor Whelan, Conor Cooney, Jason Flynn.

**Subs: **John Hanbury for Paul Killeen (25), Niall Burke for Conor Cooney (55), Thomas Monaghan for Cathal Mannion (63), Sean Loftus for Johnny Coen (63 mins), Eanna Burke for David Burke (68)

DUBLIN: Conor Dooley; Cian O'Callaghan, Eoghan O'Donnell, Oisin Gough; Chris Crummey, Liam Rushe, Shane Barrett; Sean Moran, Niall McMorrow; Eoghan Conroy, Ben Quinn, David Treacy; Eamon Dillon, Ryan O’Dwyer, Donal Burke.

Subs: Rian McBride for Eoghan Conroy (36), Fergal Whitely for David Treacy (47), Jake Malone for Niall McMorrow (58), John Hetherton for Ryan O’Dwyer (65), David O’Callaghan for Donal Burke (65)

REFEREE: Barry Kelly (Westmeath).